Charles William Schrimsher

Charles William "Bill" Schrimsher, age 80, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 in Bryan, Texas.

From his birth on August 15, 1940, in Springfield, Missouri to his death on Wednesday in Texas, he made a lasting impression on everyone he met. Born to Charles and Geraldine (Esther) Schrimsher, Bill was the older of two children. By a very young age Bill showed talent as an artist. From drawing parodies of comic strips featuring family and friends, hand drawn greeting cards and even several commissioned art pieces, there was no doubt he had a true talent. Bill graduated from Central Missouri State in Warrensburg, Missouri, with a degree in Education and quickly put his love of art to work. He dedicated his career to teaching the younger generation about art and how to appreciate it. He retired after many years as an Elementary Art Teacher, most notably at Holden Elementary School in Holden, Missouri, and his former students share happy memories of their time spent in his classroom. In retirement, Bill volunteered many hours at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, and lovingly referred to it as his “job”. Bill’s second love was traveling, and it was one of the ways he stayed in close touch with his family. He cruised the high seas multiple times with his mother and Aunt Joyce (Esther) Clark among others. He took road trips and enjoyed local adventures with Missouri cousins. And he took frequent and often lengthy trips to California to see his sister and brother-in-law Leland and Ellen (Schrimsher) Elster and his niece Elizabeth, treating California as his second home and spending every Christmas holiday there. Bill shared a close relationship with his niece, Elizabeth. He would fly to California just so he could turn around and personally escort her back to Missouri for a visit. His love of children was particularly evident during Elizabeth’s stays with him in Holden, where he would happily fulfill her repeated requests that he draw, in great detail, countless palm trees, unicorns, dragons and princesses. When Elizabeth (Elster) Porterfield married Kenneth Porterfield of Centerville, Texas, and Bill's great nephew, Jacob Porterfield was born, Bill would lavish the same love and attention on Jacob and started spending every Christmas in Texas. Even as travel became more difficult for Bill, he made numerous trips to Texas for birthdays, anniversaries, and those memorable Christmases and finally his ultimate trip, to live with Kenny, Elizabeth and Jacob.

Although never married, Bill maintained tight bonds with a close circle of family and friends from Missouri to Texas to California, who will miss his wit, generous spirit and perpetually positive attitude. Bill was proceeded in death by his parents and sister, Ellen. He is survived by his niece, Elizabeth and Kenny Porterfield; great nephew, Jacob Porterfield and many cousins.

Bill's final travels will take him back to Missouri where he will be laid to rest with his parents in the family plot at the Lebanon City Cemetery in Lebanon, Missouri. A memorial service will be scheduled as soon as it is safe enough for everyone to come together.

Bill was an active and loved member of the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Kansas City, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Bill's name to them.